The Company Memo: Monday, January 7, 2013

File Photo: Senior US Senator Chuck Hagel waits for Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso at the premier's official residence on October 16, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan.

Junko Kimura/Getty Images/File

Big news for President Obama’s second administration cabinet: Reports say that Obama will nominate Former Senator Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense, and National Security Advisor John Brennan to be the next C.I.A. Director. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled a tough confirmation battle ahead for Hagel on Meet the Press Sunday, and critics are already pointing to Hagel’s past statements on the “Jewish Lobby” as well as opposition to an openly gay ambassador, for which he has apologized.

Less than a month after the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, all eyes are on the White House to see if President Obama’s new working group, led by Vice President Joe Biden, can implement effective gun control measures. Beyond the proposed bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips, reports say the working group is considering requiring universal background checks, a national database for tracking the movement and sale of weapons, and more stringent mental health checks.